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Dark stains on wood flooring are usually caused by urine or water spots that have remained untreated. Once the stain has dried, it can be difficult to remove it entirely from your floor. While staining the floor darker is an option, the dark spots may still be noticeable. Depending on the cause of the stain, you have a few options for treating and then masking it. This may require a bit of trial and error until you find the right way to fade the stain, but it is possible to mask most dark stains without refinishing the entire floor.

1

Put on rubber gloves and safety glasses. Soak a steel wool pad with mineral spirits and rub the stained area with the pad. Allow the mineral spirits to dry.

2

Soak a cloth in vinegar, and apply the vinegar to the stain. Let the vinegar sit for several minutes.

3

Repeat the application of vinegar if the stain lightens after 30 minutes. Continue applying vinegar and leaving it for several minutes until the stain will no longer fade.

4

Mix a solution of equal parts household bleach and water, if the vinegar does not lighten the dark spot.

5

Apply the bleach and water to the stain using a clean cloth. Wait several minutes for the stain to fade. Repeat application of bleach until the spot fades to your satisfaction.

6

Neutralize the bleach with vinegar, once the stain has faded away. Allow the wood to dry completely.

7

Sand the area smooth with fine-grit sandpaper and vacuum the sanding dust from the floor.

8

Apply a stain that matches the floor with a rag. Leave it to sit for about 10 to 15 minutes and then wipe the excess stain away.

9

Allow the floor to dry completely. Brush polyurethane or apply floor wax over the treated area. Be sure to use the same finishing product you used on the rest of the flooring.

Things You Will Need

Rubber gloves

Safety glasses

Steel wool pad

Mineral spirits

Cloths

Vinegar

Bleach

Fine-grit sandpaper

Polyurethane or floor wax

Tip

Stains that will not lighten may be masked by sanding and staining your entire floor a darker color. However, when you use a stain that is too dark, it may be impossible to lighten the floors later should you be unsatisfied with the result.

About the Author

Renee Miller began writing professionally in 2008, contributing to websites and the "Community Press" newspaper. She is co-founder of On Fiction Writing, a website for writers. Miller holds a diploma in social services from Clarke College in Belleville, Ontario.